Hot Topics:

Boulder doctor who overprescribed pain meds gets probation

By John Bear

Staff Writer

Posted:
05/27/2016 03:59:53 PM MDT

Updated:
05/27/2016 07:50:23 PM MDT

Larry Eckstein is hugged by a supporter after Friday's sentencing. Larry Eckstein, a Boulder doctor indicted by a grand jury on drug charges for allegedly overprescribing oxycodone to an undercover officer, was sentenced Friday in Boulder District court. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)

A Boulder District judge on Friday sentenced a Boulder-based doctor accused of overprescribing opioid pain medication to an undercover police officer in 2014 to 18 months of probation and 100 hours of community service.

Applause from a large contingent of Eckstein's supporters broke out in Judge Ingrid Bakke's courtroom twice during the sentencing hearing — once when his attorney, Clifford Barnard, said he was proud to call Eckstein his friend, and again when Eckstein finished addressing the court.

Deputy District Attorney Fred Johnson said that Eckstein's practice was not randomly targeted by police, but only after a confidential informant told the Drug Enforcement Agency that the practice was an easy place to score painkillers.

Court records show an undercover Longmont police officer scheduled an appointment at Eckstein's Boulder office in 2014, complained of chronic soreness and received a prescription for hydrocodone, an opioid painkiller.

Advertisement

Eckstein provided numerous refills to the officer over the next several months and eventually prescribed the officer oxycodone, another powerful opioid painkiller.

"The undercover officer made it clear at one point that the pills would be going to someone else, that he was sharing them," Johnson said. "Dr. Eckstein was encouraging diversion of medications and controlled substances."

Johnson agreed that probation and community service was an appropriate punishment for Eckstein but added that it is a serious case, particularly because opioid abuse has become a serious problem, locally and nationally.

"It's not the story of someone who decides to put a needle in their arm," Johnson said. "It's the stories of people who go from accidents and prescriptions and before you know it, they are in a courtroom."

Barnard said Eckstein surrendered his medical license earlier this month, and added that while opioid addiction is a serious issue, the other side to the story is people who legitimately need pain medication.

"Some people have chronic pain," he said. "Many cannot get outdoors if they can't have their medications. He was in trying to balance between the opiate epidemic and the needs of chronic pain patients."

Eckstein said in court that he acted in a "flawed way," and apologized to the court and the community for the mistakes he made with regard to the case.

"I was shocked and disappointed in myself for what I did and did not do," he said. "I acted wrongly. I have had to pay dearly for these mistakes."

Bakke said before sentencing that she was shocked when she read the grand jury indictment against Eckstein, because it clearly showed something was wrong.

"I can see where this slippery slope was created," she said. "You had a large practice. Unfortunately, you let yourself slip to the point where it became a criminal act."

Bakke said that Eckstein giving up his medical license was a step toward accepting responsibility, and she took note of the large outpouring of support. She added that she wanted people to know that the police, prosecutors and probation officials were to be commended for their work.

"I hope people walk away from this knowing that law enforcement did their job," she said. " They were put on notice and they investigated."

Eckstein told the Daily Camera after sentencing that he regrets that his patients — many of whom suffer from debilitating pain — were forced to find other doctors and he was not able to help them.

"I treated these people for many years," he said. "I had a lapse in my process, my awareness of what this needed to do that led to this."

He said that as part of his community service, he hopes to do some kind of volunteer work involving drug-addiction issues facing the community.

"I'll be doing volunteer work and supporting people in need," he said. "I'll be doing the best I can to support the community in one way or another."

Boulder is pretty good at producing rock bands, and by "rock," we mean the in-your-face, guitar-heavy, leather-clad variety — you know, the good kind. For a prime example, look no farther than BANDITS. Full Story